Eight Muslim Nations Condemn Israel’s New Palestinian Death Penalty Law
Eight Muslim-majority countries have strongly condemned a new Israeli law that imposes the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis, calling it a dangerous escalation and a serious violation of international law. The joint statement was issued on Thursday by Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The criticism came after Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, approved the law earlier this week. According to reports and rights groups, the legislation would expose Palestinians in the West Bank to capital punishment if convicted in military courts of deadly attacks against Israelis, while critics say the law would apply overwhelmingly or exclusively to Palestinians.
The eight countries described the law as discriminatory and warned that it could further inflame tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories. Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the measure, calling it a violation of international law and an attempt to intimidate Palestinians through fear and collective pressure.
The Taliban administration in Afghanistan also criticized the legislation and urged influential countries to act to stop what it described as further Israeli abuses against Palestinians. The growing international reaction reflects wider concern that the law could deepen legal inequality and further damage already fragile regional stability.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called for the law to be repealed, warning that it expands the use of capital punishment while weakening legal safeguards and due process protections. Israel has not carried out an execution since 1962, making the law a major legal and political shift.
The law comes amid broader international criticism of Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, where legal systems for Palestinians and Israeli settlers are often treated separately. Analysts and rights advocates say the new measure is likely to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel and intensify debate over discrimination and accountability.
The condemnation by eight Muslim-majority countries underscores how quickly the law has become an international issue beyond Israel and Palestine. With tensions already high, the legislation is likely to add another layer of political and legal confrontation to an already volatile conflict.
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